Department of
Public Health
Representative:
Professor Kiyoshi Aoyagi
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Elderly people have been growing rapidly in Japan. Health on elderly people are important issues medically and socially.
In order to acquire the extension of healthy life expectancy and prevention for bed-ridden, we conducted population-based survey on osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and falls, and examined the developing methods for promotion or maintenance of activity of daily living or quality of life.
Recently, we reported the association of vertebral compression fractures with physical performance measures in 556 Japanese women aged 40–89 years (BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2017; 18: 176.).
Lateral spine radiographs were obtained and radiographic vertebral compression fractures were assessed by quantitative morphometry, defined as vertebral heights more than 3 SD below the normal mean.
Measures of physical performance included walking speed, chair stand time and functional reach. Adjusted means of performance-based measures according to the number and severity of vertebral compression fractures were calculated using general linear modeling methods.
After adjusting for age, body mass index, back pain, number of painful joints, number of comorbidities and regular physical activities, the walking speed of women with two or more compression fractures was significantly slower than that of women without compression fracture.
Compared with women without compression fracture, chair stand time was longer in women with two or more compression fractures, and functional reach was shorter.
No significant differences were observed in walking speed, chair stand time, or functional reach between women with one compression fracture and those without compression fracture.
In conclusion, Having multiple vertebral compression fractures affects physical performance in community-dwelling Japanese women.
Poor physical functioning may lead to functional dependence, accelerated bone loss, and increased risk for falls, injuries, and fractures.
Preventing vertebral compression fracture is considered important for preserving the independence of older adults.
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